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Our first trip to Europe

We are flying into Rome in Sept. and will have about 11 nights to stay, and then flying out of Milan. We would like to stay in Rome, 2 nights, Sorrento 3 nights, Florence 3 nights, and Venice 3 nights. What are going to be the best way to do this trip, most cost effective and time traveled?

It sounds to me like the time you will be spending will cut back the time you have to enjoy Italy. Traveling so much means more stress and less fun. If you take the trains, take the fast train. It is worth the money and it is very comfortable- with Internet, but no fancy cafes.
Also, if you chose to travel using the train stations, do your homework. Buy the tickets in ADVANCE online.
The train stations attract every scammer, beggar and pick pocket with professional practice.
Last week, in the Rome train station I had my I-phone stolen out of my zipped bag.
The steep, and narrow escalator was broken. I was walking up it with a roller bag that fits in an overhead on an airplane.
Still, it was a very steep and tall escalator.
Without seeing the man coming up behind me, a young Italian man wearing an expensive business suit, grabbed the bottom of my roller bag, lifting it for me to carry it much easier.
As we reached the top of the escalator, he heaved it up higher, reached under it, unzipped my small travel purse and snatched my cell.
I didn't realize it until 15 min. later, and we were on the train. So there was no way I could go back.
Anyone who approaches you at a train station wants to offer to, "Help" you, wants money. Do not allow anyone to touch your bag. Travel very light, I mean wear a back pack. seriously, you can wash out a few clothing items if you stay in one place at least a few nights for them to dry.
The Italian police do NOT care at all about American tourists. Cab drivers, restaurant owners, cashiers, you name it all tried to rip us off. We were there 17 days,and it made me sad that put a damper on our trip. SOOO much beauty to see in Italy. Learn basic Italian. Wear your back pack across the front of yourself, keep a money pouch well hidden under your bra or belt. It's all fun and games til you realize some scumbag got your money or cell phone. I used Euros I brought from the US, and avoided using debit cards, I thought I had researched all the rip offs, etc. Apparently, the thieves are very well prepared. Be safe, have fun and don't let them get your hard earned money. Jana

Do you realize you have to stay someplace three nights just to get two useable days in a place? So two nights in Rome is just one day and you have just two days each in Sorrento, Florence and Venice. You will be spending more than a third of your days in transit. It would be wise to cut at least one destination.

I am amazed at your experiences in Italy. Granted there are often pickpockets and scammers at the largest train stations - but they can be avoided if you are careful and aware.

But for you to say that you were ripped off by cab drivers, restaurants, shops, etc is completely antithetical to the experiences I have had in my 10 plus visits to italy.

Most people are very friendly and helpful and we never had anyone try to cheat us on anything.

Are you sure that you weren't misinterpreting what was going on? (Things are often done differently in italy than in the US - and sometimes people don't fully understand these differences in system.) Or did you focus on using only the tourist trap shops and restaurants nearest the major sights?

Not sure of your experience with the police, but generally there is nothing they can do after you have been victim of a pickpocket (as in the US - police have many other things to do). You just need to be sure you have a report from them to give to your insurance company so you can recoup your loss.

Thanks for these great replies, because you all have convinced me to only choose a couple of places to stay, instead of my original plans. Yes, our flight is booked due to a great price for first class seats, so there is no changing to fly to or from Venice or Naples, due to flight does not fly to or from either place. With this information, which cities would make most sense to visit?

You haven't been clear on how many nights you have to visit Italy. If you have 11 and are landing in Rome, spend 4 nights there, 3 in Florence, 3 in Florence, 3 in Venice and the last night in Milan. If the 11 days includes your arrival and departure days, drop one city, either Florence or Venice depending on your interests.

I would do Rome, Florence, Venice only (then last night spend in Milan for your flight home since that's how you booked it). Those three cities are very easily done by train. Divide your time evenly between the three.

Rome to Naples - the CircumVesuviana commuter train to Sorrento - base for Amalfi, Pompeii and Capri and Ischia islands.

Sorrento-Naples-Florence - direct train to Florence from Naples

Florence to Venice

Venice to Milan - i suggest staying in Milan or at the airport always rather than some remote location and depending on trains to get you a long distance to the airport - train strikes are not rare in Italy.

For lots of great info on Italian trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. IME first class has definite benefits, especially for folks with luggage so on the trip of a lifetime pay extra for first class - you will find it much more relaxing - either score discounted ducats at www.trenitalia.com or if wanting flexibility to chose which trains to take once there in either class then the Italy Eurailpass may be chaper than walk-up fares for your routing - discounted tickets would be cheaper but have to be reserved weeks ahead of time to guarantee as they are issued in limited numbers and cannot be changed.

We have a B&B booked for Rome 3 nights, and the next night is available to stay somewhere else between Rome and Florence which is where we will spend the most time before going to Milan for the last 2 nights. Where would be a good place to stop on the train to stay for one night between Rome and Florence?

<Is it best to take US dollars or get Euro dollars at home before going to Europe to take? I see several things that want cash, and I guess that would be euros they are wanting?>

Depends how much cash you need and how much your ATM debit card will let you take out (whether you might want to purchase Euro at home before your trip).

Exchanging USD will pretty much always cost you more than using a bank ATM to get them directly (depending on arrangements with your home bank, and where you are trying to do the cash for cash exchange).

I have been to Rome 7 times the last 15 years. None of my stays were under six nights. I love the city, but tell all my friends going there for the first time: "Three nights MINIMUM."
I also think Florence needs more time. It seems you are trying to see way too much with such a short time frame. If it were me, I'd cut Sorrento off completely this trip.

jabez: I have been to Rome 7 times the last 15 years. None of my stays were under six nights. I love the city, but tell all my friends going there for the first time: "Three nights MINIMUM."

Try to understand that not everyone has the same travel style as you have or the same preferences and likes. Other than the Roman forum, which was amazing, I didn't care that much for Rome. Three nights there was plenty for me. But I have no doubt others could spend much more time there.

Stop and think about this statement. Suppose you were traveling from Dallas to Detroit and were robbed in Dubuque, Iowa. If the Dubuque police caught the bad guys two days later, would you be willing to go back to Dubuque a couple of years later for the trial? Would you go back to Rome for the trial of your pickpocket?

In Western democracies, the accused have the right to confront their accusers. If crooks pick on tourists, it is because they know the tourists won't be around to testify.

Most criminal cases are settled by pleading to a lesser charge. Why would a bad guy plead a case when the crucial witness won't be there?

Your caution about people helping with bags, etc, is valid. Don't scare the OP with your own anger about everything else. I've spent maybe three months in Italy over five trips, and nothing bad has happened to me at all.

The Italian police do not care about any minor thefts to any tourists, American, Chinese, Spanish, whatever. And really, how can they?

Madge, do read and follow the currency thread posted above for you. Very informative.

Ackislander, I'm glad that you've never had any one try to rip you off or scam you in Italy. I too have spent a good deal of time in Italy, and have had several small and one larger incident. I'm not filled with hate about it; in fact I'm going back ASAP and do so often.

But it's not always crime free. Petty crimes against tourists are common enough in my experience.

I don't find that my savvy looks or creaky tourist Italian or polite ways are much protection. I've been shortchanged a couple of times, and once on a 50 euro bill that I had to argue about. The scammer was as pleasant as could be, but he sure tried to get my money before he gave it back with a "I tried" shrug.

I've been ripped off by a cabby in Rome who charged 25 euro to go from Termini to Piazza Navona. It was an official Rome taxi in the queue at Termini.

In fact, aside from a young girl who had her hands in my shirt pocket on a train in Liguria, and the gas station attendant with the 50 euro bill in Umbria, I think all the other issues I've had have been in Rome.

Well, there was the old man I saw attacked in Pisa...

Anyway, Madge, don't be fooled by me, by jnewton, or by those who have been lucky enough to move through Italy incident free. Just be a bit careful.

And in Termini, if you have a bag and the escalator isn't working, take the elevator. And beware of the young boys who hang out near the elevator to help you with your bags.

Still it seems that shenanigans like that happen so much in Termini that a little undercover cop work would wipe it out - if they need an American tourists who can look naive and rich there would be plenty of volunteers. Something is rotten in Italy and its the railway police in Termini IMO.

Italy has been a place of tourism for over 2000 years. This must influence the way people behave.

Is Rome anywhere I'd be especially worried? No, but I would be worried anywhere around the world

1) Near places where there are crowds
2) Busy railway stations

So yes ask for help with bags, don't let others decide they are going to help you with bags. People with "official" yellow wastecoats on could be anything, so avoid. Even people claiming to be police in street clothes are not the police. You want people in full uniform before you take them seriously.

Don't let Termini worry you, I've had to rescue a few older Americans in Termini (and I've not been there that often) who are just tired by Rome/flights/walking/lack of train experience and just need guidance to the right platform. It is easy but there are no "retired meeters and greeters" or "step this way folks" the staff are there to keep the process working not help people out in their own language. If in doubt do what everyone else does, which is stand back and look at the big screen which calls up platforms about 15 minutes before the departure.

I suggest an overnight stop in a small town between Florence and Rome. I did a similar trip (Venice, Florence and Rome) and halfway through my stay in Rome I wish I had added a small town for a change of pace. Orvieto is a nice option.

Orvieto is a great option between Rome and Florence - a classic hill town and one of the best and most interesting around. You have to take IC or regional trains to get to Orvieto as the high-speed line speeds past town without stopping. From the train station take the funicular up the volcanic pile that Orvieto crowns to the old town or buses that wind up right to the town center.

One late afternoon on the last day of an Italian trip we were wandering around and without really noticing where we were going, found ourselves in a deserted parking lot/street. I think it was on the Esquiline Hill--it was certainly up fairly high.

We both noticed a guy on a Vespa acting sort of squirrely--driving here and there with no apparent destination, but we didn't pay much attention until he suddenly zoomed between us and snatched my spouse's shoulder bag.

We called the police, went to the station, filed a report--
the most valuable thing in it was my spouse's camera so we didn't lose much, but it's a bummer to spend your last vacation day at the police station.

Ever since then, my spouse has hated Vespas and has never carried shoulder bags. Now we go with money belts and no cameras (except for iPhone).